SHIRLEY M. MAURER

Born in April of 1930 in Rhinebeck, New York to Alfred and Thelma Piester, Shirley grew up in Kingston, New York, where she met her future husband, Francis “Frank” Maurer, at age 17. She graduated from New York State Teacher’s College in New Paltz and began teaching in Spring Valley, New York. After four years of courtship, Shirley and Frank were married on October 21, 1951.

Shirley and Frank were transferred numerous times with Hercules, Inc. After the birth of their daughter, Pamela, in Wilmington, Delaware, Shirley became a full time housewife. Their second child, Paul, was born in Portland, Oregon. In 1966, Shirley and Frank settled in Wilmington, Delaware, where they were active golfers at Hercules Country Club. In 1979, Shirley and Frank began spending winters in Marco Island, Florida, which they continued through 2010. Shirley suffered from macular degeneration and glaucoma for years, becoming legally blind in 2010. A resilient woman, she never complained about losing her eyesight and was always upbeat and happy. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a warm, kind heart.

Shirley was predeceased by her sister Janet Gavis and her parents, Alfred and Thelma Piester. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Frank Maurer; brother, Alfred Piester; children, Pamela McCrery and her husband Jay, and Paul Maurer; grandchildren, A.J. McCrery IV and his wife Megan, and Lauren McCrery and her husband Aaron Stulman; and great-granddaughter, Avery McCrery.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 14 at 11 am at the Church of the Holy Child, 2500 Naamans Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810. Interment will take place privately.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Shirley’s name to the Delaware Association for the Blind, 2915 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE 19808 or http://www.dabdel.org/.